On a mission to release a full-length album in early 2026, ‘Cold Open’, Chicago-based creative and songwriter Leo XIV has recently unveiled his latest effort, ‘Feel’, a fierce and bold electronic-pop piece boasting heightened charisma and dance-inducing character. Written as a courageous proof of creative resilience and independence, the single was born from an impromptu and dedicated writing session on the back of a rather dark period for the American talent.
Marking an emotional release of sorts, ‘Feel’ is a striking sign of Leo XIV getting back to art and personal expression. He does so with a timeless blend of mainstream pop and EDM flavourings, a formula that feels playful and uplifting, but especially fun and optimistic. Leo’s vocals are malleable and luscious, floating over the flashy instrumental with elegance and cathartic flair. ‘Feel’ follows up from the project’s previous single, ‘Midas’.
Intrigued by the American troubadour, we caught up with Leo XiV to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Leo, thanks for chatting with us! Before we dive into your latest release, I’d love to know more about the human behind the art. How did you arrive at music in the first place? Were there any particular influences growing up? Is there an artist or band that has shaped your musical taste?
Thank you for showing interest! Music has always spoken to me in a deeper and more meaningful way than any other language. When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time alone in my room with a radio that had a built-in cassette tape player/recorder. I would record mixtapes of my favourite songs when they played on the air and, embarrassingly, sometimes call the local stations multiple times a night to request a particular song so I could record it. Music has been my lifeblood since day one, for reasons I may never fully understand.
Influences for me are so vast and hard to narrow down, but I can say unequivocally that Radiohead has had the single biggest impact on my life. Some of the other heavy hitters span a lot of different genres but include Sigur Ros, Thievery Corporation, Dredg, Deftones, Thrice, The Mars Volta, Sleep Token, The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake, The Roots, and way too many others to list.
I have read about a period of depression and overall negativity that has affected you for years. Am I correct in thinking that creativity sort of slides away when those moods arise? Was it difficult to connect with your creative self?
When those things come up for me, it can be pretty debilitating and paralysing in the moment as it renders useless just about any attempts at doing something constructive for myself; by the same token, though, I often come out of it with some of my best and most compelling ideas. In this instance, it just took a hell of a lot longer for that to happen than I thought it would.
What’s the one advice you’d give to anyone in the same situation? (apart from the obvious therapy suggestion)? I really appreciate such a potent story of healing and survival, and I am sure others will resonate with it.
Existentialism, meditation, picking up a musical instrument, and just going outside and touching some grass – those have all worked wonders for me. As someone who’s lost it all and narrowly averted the end of it all on multiple occasions, I believe there’s no moment so big and no situation so intimidating to be willing to sacrifice your identity, integrity, or intrinsic worth. The world can feel like a cold, dead place at times, and unfortunately, not everyone will offer you the time, respect, or empathy you deserve, but they can never take away who you are.
Let’s focus on your recent release, ‘Feel’. Marking your sophomore record, the track bathes in uplifting, bold alt-pop goodness with R&B flavourings. Are you proud of how the song turned out?
First of all, thank you for the kind words! I am quite proud of it. As with any song, there will always be a few things I criticise myself over forever, but hopefully those things exist solely in my head and no one else’s. Overall, I think it turned out how I intended it to, which is what matters most.
Are you also the producer? How did the songwriting process unfold?
I am! Most of my songs start with a hook, or at least a central theme/motif that forms the foundation for everything else. It’s hard to explain, but my song ideas tend to just suddenly materialise in my head, often in their entirety with a specific key, tempo, instrumentation, vocals, etc. It then becomes my job to translate it as best I can to get it into a tangible, audible representation that I can build upon.
We can certainly tease your upcoming album, ‘Cold Open’, expected in early 2026. Is the album going to share the same evocative, pop-esque flair? Or are you planning a more eclectic approach to it?
Personally, I think it’s fairly eclectic. There are songs like “Feel” and “Midas” that sound bigger and more anthemic, while others are a bit more intimate and experimental. I think people may be a bit surprised to hear two or three of the songs.
How are you navigating the music industry? Do you struggle with blending the creative and marketing side of it?
With my professional background in business and IT consulting, I’d like to think I have enough of a marketing mindset to define my brand and how best to present/articulate it, but I do struggle with the confidence and constant attention needed to shamelessly self-promote, especially on social media… probably because I’m an introvert and it doesn’t feel natural to me. So, this tends to be one of the main areas I could probably use a little help with.
What’s next for Leo XIV? I am expecting a few more singles to be released… am I right?
I’ve toyed with the idea of releasing a third single, but given my aggressive self-administered timeline of Q1 2026 for the debut album release, there are a few other things I’d like to accomplish before then: a music video for “Feel,” a biopic-style short film, some studio sessions, and a surprise cover song. So, if you dig it, please stay tuned!
